Animated picture stories presented to infants. (A) In the build phase, a character performs an action with two objects (e.g., hitting 2 balls together, producing a “knock” sound). Then, a second character performs the same action and joins the first character, who responds positively (happy expression, “hey” sound). (B) The third character (the individual) shows compliant or noncompliant behavior, performing the same or different action (e.g., throwing the balls in the air, making a “fuh” sound). (C) The character is then approved and included (happy expression, his “hey,” moving toward the individual) or disapproved and ostracized (angry expression, his “argument,” moving away from the individual). The final scene lasted 5 seconds. Animated picture stories presented to infants. (A) In the build phase, a character performs an action with two objects (e.g., hitting 2 balls together, producing a “knock” sound). Then, a second character performs the same action and joins the first character, who responds positively (happy expression, “hey” sound). (B) The third character (the individual) shows compliant or noncompliant behavior, performing the same or different action (e.g., throwing the balls in the air, making a “fuh” sound). (C) The character is then approved and included (happy expression, his “hey,” moving toward the individual) or disapproved and ostracized (angry expression, his “argument,” moving away from the individual). The final scene lasted 5 seconds. Credit: Scientific reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53110-3
Our daily lives are full of rules, such as how we should dress, how we greet each other, which side of the road we drive on and when we cross at traffic lights. These and many other social norms constitute the basis of human coexistence in societies. In a recent study by scientists at the University of Regensburg and the University of Oxford, now published in Scientific reportseven babies have been shown to understand what is right and wrong.
“We were able to show for the first time that babies already know that they should behave in the same way as other members of a group. This was also the case when a completely new action was shown, which infants were able to observe these results only twice,” explains Professor Moritz Köster, first author of the study. “We ourselves were surprised at how quickly young infants grasp new social rules, and this is much earlier than previously thought.”
To study children’s understanding of social norms, scientists created short animated stories in which two little characters perform a new action (for example, putting two balls against each other). A third character in the scene either performed the same action or did something completely different (for example, throwing the balls in the air).
When the third character wanted to join the other two characters, they either reacted welcomingly and accepted the third character, or they reacted with rejection and turned away from the third character. Scientists measured the diameter of infants’ pupils to study their startle response.
Infants are surprised when the group’s reaction is inconsistent, particularly if nonconforming behavior by the third character is asserted or if behavior conforming to the group nevertheless leads to exclusion from the group.
“A very important feature of social norms is that not only do we behave like others, as many animal species do with their natural behavior, but we also socially evaluate others based on whether or not they follow the rules set by the others.”, explains Moritz Köster.
“In principle, it can be any behavior, so the rule can serve an end in itself, signaling to others that one belongs to a certain group. It is remarkable that babies understand this before to be able to express rules themselves or execute indicated actions competently. So what we discovered could be a very basic human mechanism, a social compass, so to speak, that allows babies to organize and navigate in their social environment from a very young age.”
More information:
Moritz Köster et al, Preverbal understanding of social norms by infants, Scientific reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53110-3
Provided by the University of Regensburg
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